Monday, December 15, 2014

Thank You.

Thank you for all your messages of support, kindness, and love in the past week. They have been so appreciated.

And thank you - even more so - for sharing your personal stories about grief and loss with me. I've blinked back tears after reading many of them, but your words have helped lift that heavy weight from my chest that I felt pulling down on my neck last week like an anchor.

When a friend or family member passes away, they always visit me in my dreams, where we have magical conversations and I wake up with a tear-stained pillowcase. I "see" my beloved grandpa, who died while I was studying for my Master's degree at York, about once a year or so. We often "meet" in an airport, or at his condo in California - sometimes at his apartment in Hong Kong. Often, he doesn't even speak - he just smiles his sweet, benevolent smile. I tell him how happy I am to see him, how much I love him, and above all, how much I miss him. He knows.

I am patiently waiting for my friend to visit me there.

In some happier news, I also wanted to thank you for all your votes in the UK Blog Awards. I am so excited to announce that Angloyankophile has been shortlisted in the Travel Individual category, which I wouldn't have been able to do without your generous support.

So, thank you. I don't write this blog to win awards, or to network, or to enjoy free meals in fancy restaurants (although, I must admit, that's a lot of fun!). I write because you're reading it and because it makes me so happy that you are.

5 comments

Thank you so much for sharing, Jaime. That's one of the reasons I love your blog – because you're honest and open and share beautiful stories, like the one you've shared above seeing your grandfather in your dreams. I have no doubt that your sweet friend will visit you one of these nights very soon.

(And on a much more lighthearted note, congratulations on being shortlisted!!! Woop!)

When I was teaching in Japan, a student of mine died. I had a dream of him, that he wanted to use me to pass on messages to people. But I was really scared and turned him down. I know it's just a dream but I feel so bad for having turned him down. Gah, I'm such a weirdo haha

My friend *did* visit me last night in a dream. I was on my way to catch a train and she was sitting outside a cafe, smoking with a friend. I called to her and she hopped down from where she was with a smile. I told her I missed her and she said she missed me too. She held out her arms for a hug but I said, "I can't". I knew she wasn't real and I didn't want to feel her disappear through my arms. I felt so sad when I woke up that I didn't hug her, because it was what I wanted to do the most, but I didn't want to be disappointed.